Washburn’s Outdoor Journal

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.It was early March, and Iowa’s spring thaw was gathering a full head of steam.  Even in the north, snow cover was going fast.  Another day, maybe two, and it would all be […]

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.Nearly everyone has a favorite sign that says spring is on the way.  It might be melting snow drifts, a noisy echelon of northbound geese, or the sighting of the season’s first robin. 

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.Pushing hard on the heels of a retreating winter, migrating trumpeter swans are moving northward.  For area wildlife enthusiasts, the sight and sound of wild swans is a heart stirring event. With peak

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.There are some things in life that I’ve learned not to take for granted.  Winter weather is one of those things.  Hard to believe that, just one week ago, Northern Iowa was receiving

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.For those who abhor cold weather, backyard bird feeding is the perfect winter pastime.  You get to enjoy the daily activities wild birdlife but, instead of braving the elements, you do it from

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.Pursuing the red fox is a challenging pastime.  My latest attempt at catching one was a classic example.  Following a week of cat and mouse, the sighting of fresh tracks, but no fox,

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.The barred owl’s signature greeting — “Who cooks for you?  Who cooks for you all?” – would be hard to mistake for any other sound.   That distinctive call is currently echoing through winter

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.The Stage Was Set   If There Was Ever A Time to Be In The Duck Blind, This Was It Iowa’s waterfowl seasons have officially concluded.  Gone but not forgotten, the 2020 duck season

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.I love homemade stuffing.  You know, turkey and dressing, pheasant and dressing; stuff like that.  Although exceedingly popular during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, stuffing quickly becomes a never-to-be-seen food item during the

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.The final segment of Iowa’s deer and turkey seasons is one of my favorite times to enjoy the Iowa outdoors.  OK, I know the obvious down sides.  By now, groups of already suspicious